ثَوى لَكَ في قَلبي غَرامٌ مُبَرِّحُ

ثَوى لَكَ في قَلبي غَرامٌ مُبَرِّحُ

أراقِمُهُ في حَبَّة القلبِ تَنفُثُ

أراقِمُهُ في حَبَّة القلبِ تَنفُثُ

A tormenting passion for you has made its home within my heart;

A tormenting love for you has settled in my heart.

Its speckled serpents breathe venom in the heart’s very core.

Its serpents spit venom in the very core of the heart.

ثَباتي عَلَى هَذا الهَوى غَيرُ مُمكِنٍ

ثَباتي عَلَى هَذا الهَوى غَيرُ مُمكِنٍ

ومِثلِي عَلى مِثلِ الهَوى لَيسَ يَمكُثُ

ومِثلِي عَلى مِثلِ الهَوى لَيسَ يَمكُثُ

To remain steadfast under such love is impossible;

My steadfastness in this love is impossible.

One such as I cannot endure a love like this.

And one like me does not linger in such a love.

ثَمِلتُ وَلم أمدُد يَميناً لِقهوَةٍ

ثَمِلتُ وَلم أمدُد يَميناً لِقهوَةٍ

ومِثلي عَلى مِثلِ الهَوى ليسَ يَمكُثُ

ومِثلي عَلى مِثلِ الهَوى ليسَ يَمكُثُ

I grew drunk, though I never stretched out my hand for wine;

I grew drunk, though I had not reached my right hand for wine.

One such as I cannot endure a love like this.

And one like me does not linger in such a love.

ثَنيتُ عِنانَ الحُبِّ نحوَكَ والرِّضا

ثَنيتُ عِنانَ الحُبِّ نحوَكَ والرِّضا

ونارُ الأسى بَينَ الضُّلوعِ تُؤرَّثُ

ونارُ الأسى بَينَ الضُّلوعِ تُؤرَّثُ

I turned the reins of love toward you, seeking your favor,

I turned the reins of love and contentment toward you,

While sorrow’s fire is kindled among my ribs.

And sorrow's fire is kindled between my ribs.

ثَوابُ الهَوى لَو أسعَدَ الحِبُّ وقفةٌ

ثَوابُ الهَوى لَو أسعَدَ الحِبُّ وقفةٌ

يُحَدِّثُني في ظِلِّها وأُحَدِّثُ

يُحَدِّثُني في ظِلِّها وأُحَدِّثُ

Love’s reward—if the beloved would grant the joy—would be one moment

Love's reward, if the beloved would oblige, is a moment's pause,

In whose shade he speaks to me, and I speak to him.

He speaks to me in its shade, and I speak.

ثَرائي وَجَاهَي فيه وَجدٌ وأدُمعٌ

ثَرائي وَجَاهَي فيه وَجدٌ وأدُمعٌ

فَقلبيَ في الحَالَينِ ضاعٍ مُدَمَّثُ

فَقلبيَ في الحَالَينِ ضاعٍ مُدَمَّثُ

My wealth and rank in love are ardor and tears;

My wealth and rank in this love are longing and tears,

In either state my heart is lost, buried in the dust.

So in both states my heart is humbled and softened.

ثَقيلُ الأسَى عِندِي خَفيفٌ لأجلِهِ

ثَقيلُ الأسَى عِندِي خَفيفٌ لأجلِهِ

فَها أنَا في وَجدِي بِهِ أتَشَبَّثُ

فَها أنَا في وَجدِي بِهِ أتَشَبَّثُ

The heavy burden of sorrow seems light to me for his sake;

Heavy sorrow is light to me for his sake,

Here I am, clinging to him amid my ardor.

So here I am, clinging to him in my longing.

ثَلَمتَ فُؤادِي بالنَّوى فَجَبرتُهُ

ثَلَمتَ فُؤادِي بالنَّوى فَجَبرتُهُ

بِصَبرٍ بهِ أبرَمتُ ما أنتَ تَنكُثُ

بِصَبرٍ بهِ أبرَمتُ ما أنتَ تَنكُثُ

You notched my heart with separation, and I mended it

You broke my heart with separation, so I mended it,

With patience, whereby I bind fast what you unravel.

With patience, by which I bound fast what you unravel.

ثَكِلتُ فُؤادِي إن تألَّم للأسَى

ثَكِلتُ فُؤادِي إن تألَّم للأسَى

عَلَى عِلمِهِ أنَّ الحَوادِثَ تَحدُثُ

عَلَى عِلمِهِ أنَّ الحَوادِثَ تَحدُثُ

May I be bereft of my heart if it grieves at sorrow,

May I be bereft of my heart if it suffers from sorrow,

Knowing as it does that calamities must come to pass.

Though it knows that misfortunes happen.

ثناؤك رَيحَانِي وذِكرُك رَاحَتي

ثناؤك رَيحَانِي وذِكرُك رَاحَتي

وَحُبُّكَ سُلوانِي إلى يَومِ أُبعَثُ

وَحُبُّكَ سُلوانِي إلى يَومِ أُبعَثُ

Your praise is my sweet basil, and your remembrance my repose;

Praising you is my sweet basil, and remembering you is my repose,

Your love is my consolation until the day I am raised.

And love for you is my solace until the day I am resurrected.